Battey, Patricia AnneAnn Arbor, MIAge 47, passed away Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at her home after her second courageous battle with cancer. Patricia was born November 5th, 1960 in Grosse Pointe, MI, the beloved daughter of Anneliese and Kurt Strauch. After graduating from L'Anse Creuse High School, she earned a Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan, where she met her husband, David Battey. She also gave birth to her two older children, Christopher and Alice, while earning her degree. She worked as an optical engineer at Kaiser Optical Systems, Inc. for six years before leaving the profession.

Over the next few years, Patricia had two more children, Madeleine and Luke, and briefly pursued a doctorate in psychology before deciding that her true ambitions lay in teaching. She completed an intensive Master's program in education, student-teaching at Saline High School. She taught for a year at South Lyon High School before beginning her tenure at Pioneer High School. She taught math at Pioneer for eight years, and she was universally loved by her students and colleagues.

Patricia was a loving parent, teacher, and friend to everyone who knew her. Ten months out of the year, the school was her life - she put fifteen hours a day into teaching and preparation. Even as her health declined, she continued to tutor individual students.

During her summers off, she always had several home improvement projects in progress. She loved making her house beautiful. She was always generous with her time and attention, and inspired those around her to be their best. She will be deeply missed by everyone whose lives she touched.

Patricia is preceded in death by her father, Kurt, and survived by her mother, Anneliese, and four children, Christopher, Alice, Madeleine, and Luke, as well as boyfriend Gary. The memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, October 5th, 2008 in Schreiber Auditorium at Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor. An open house will follow at her home, from 3 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Patricia's memory may be made to the Cancer Research Institute.